Terrain: Basalt Columns

One of the most strange rock formations are the Basalt Columns, which are rapidly cooled rock during a volcanic eruption and they get a characteristic hexagonal (usually) form. The most famous is the Giant's Causeway in Ireland and more information can be found HERE, as long with other PLACES where they exist. They can have many colours but I chose to do them in the classic rock grey and dark tones, as they fit better with my SM Chapter homeworld. Let's start, shall we?

We will need some common wooden pencils, nothing expensive. In this terrain piece I used 6 pencils. Ofcourse we will need our usual base, a CD/DVD (preferrably one that is not working anymore). We cut the pencils in different lengths, as we see fit. We do not throw away the wood chips.

Using our hot-glue gun we place the columns. Photos can be used as reference, but usually they follow a rough staircase-formation. We do not care much if they do not interlock properly or if there is excess glue on their base.

With PVA-Wood glue we cover the rest of the base and we pour our left-over trimmings. Hey, free basing material! Plus the smell of the pencils always had a homey feeling for me...

Time to prime the piece! I chose black, as I went for a dark tone but you can use also white, grey or other colours, depending on what you want to achieve.

After we paint the columns and dry-brush the rest. I chose Citadel Dawnstone for this part. If you want to give some texture, you can use a fast brush with Citadel Astrogranite, as I did too.

Remember that ugly glue on the base? Time to cover it up. Again, you can use whatever flock or basing you want, but I wanted a more desolate look and I used rocks. To glue them I used super-glue in gel type and I tapped them with a wooden stick to stick them better. It may need a 2nd round of glue and tapping, depending on the density and the acceptance of the rocks to stick in place.

Now, I did not had grey-hued rocks but I solved it with some Citadel Nuln Oil. Only 2 passes were enough, but again you can adjust to your liking. I also expaned the wash between the columns to give a more natural look. You can use other washes if you want another look or have a different pallette.


Well, there it is. A simple and cost-effective terrain piece. I hope you will enjoy it in your moon or desolate terrain mats.